Girl Boss Energy: Qinwen Zheng v Anca Todoni
Opening Rod Laver Arena in 2025 is none other than the enigmatic No. 5 seed, Qinwen Zheng. She is, as Forbes have recently reported. the world’s fourth highest earning athlete, and is the first athlete to ever grace the cover of Chinese Vogue.
The 2024 finalist isn’t here to play second fiddle again and has no hesitation in calling the shots. As she told assembled press at AO 25, “To the coach I say, ‘I think my backhand down the line is to improve. I think my return is to improve.’ I always come on the court with, ‘Okay, we are not good enough.’”
Her opponent is Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni, a 20-year-old wunderkind ranked 105 spots behind Zheng. Although Todoni is a long shot, she’s fresh-from-qualifying and has had all week to get used to the courts under match conditions. And let’s not forget, the Aussies love an underdog, which makes this matchup all the more intriguing.
Queen Aryna Returns: Sabalenka v Stephens
If you think sequels don’t work in sports, think again! Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning queen of Melbourne Park, is chasing her own blockbuster trilogy; a historic third consecutive Australian Open title. Only tennis legends, Martina Hingis, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, and Margaret Court, have managed such a feat.
As the best player in the world, she will open the night session on Rod Laver arena against former Grand Slam Champion, Sloane Stephens in the first round.
Sabalenka, ever candid about the pressures of being at the top, has given a few interviews detailing her feelings about the duality of success. As she told Harpers Bazaar Australia recently, “Now I have this target on my back. I was thinking to myself, ‘OK, it’s time for me to give up and to quit, it’s time for me to retire.’”
In contrast, Stephens was volleying back her own response to those actually suggesting she should hang up her racquet; “If these people are still paying me, I’m not going,” she quipped recently to US Weekly “I think people don’t realise, if someone was paying you a lot of money, you wouldn’t quit your job.”
She makes a pragmatic point, as one does need to pay the bills at the end of the day. Pay the bills they will with even the first round loser taking home $132,000 and the winner of the final receiving a whopping $3.5 million this year.
One of these Grand Slammers will likely take home the top prize.
Blinkova’s Big Swings: Daria Saville v Anna Blinkova
Aussie darling Daria Saville is stepping onto the court with a wild card and the kind of resilience that makes you cheer a little louder. After battling injuries and freezing her eggs in preparation for a future family, Dasha is determined to write a comeback story.
Her opponent, Anna Blinkova, is a power hitter who doesn’t flinch under pressure—just ask John McEnroe, who called her tiebreak win last year one of the “greatest he’s ever seen.”
Saville’s fighting spirit meets Blinkova’s sheer force, and is bound to be a match for the ages.
Marta Kostyuk: A Voice and a Volley
The 17th seed from Ukraine, Marta Kostyuk, is not just playing tennis, she’s playing for her country. A quarter-finalist last year, she’s been vocal about keeping the world’s focus on Ukraine amid ongoing conflict.
“The war is still there,” she reminded the crowd at last year’s Australian Open, with her words resonating like her powerful groundstrokes.
Kostyuk’s first-round opponent, Nao Hibino, is a steady presence from Japan, but Marta’s passion and purpose might just give her the edge. With six Ukrainian women in the main draw this year, the strength and spirit of these players are an inspiration to all.
Whether it’s Quinwen’s drive, Sabalenka’s ambition, Saville’s grit, or Kostyuk’s courage, these women remind us that the game’s beauty lies in its humanity.
See you Courtside Sunday!
